Chapter 382

"What? Absolutely not!" Darby nearly shot upright from her chair, her tone spiking in alarm before she forced it down,abruptly aware of the gravity of the moment. "Ms. Scott,forging medical files is a serious breach of both the law and professional integrity. It's a crime!"

Hannah's stare held steady. If anything, it hardened. She drew a card from the inner lining of her purse and slid it beneath the folder in front of Darby. "Money is no obstacle. This card is unregistered, limitless, and valid worldwide. What it holds is more than enough for your entire family to relocate abroad and live among the upper class forever."

Darby's eyes darted between the card and Hannah, beads of clammy sweat forming on her brow. "What exactly do you expect me to do? This... This is unlawful and immoral. I won't do it!"

"Calm yourself-it harms no one." Hannah lowered her lashes,her features tinged with the faint ache of resignation, the mask of a daughter-in-law oppressed in an affluent clan."|only need to silence my mother-in-law. Life in a rich household isn't nearly as glamorous as it looks. Without a child, my footing is unstable. She hounds me every day, and my husband treats me with disdain. I just need a short reprieve, a facade of pregnancy, to hold my place. Nothing more."

The reasoning carried weight, drawing pity for a young wife crushed by domestic expectations.

Darby's worries and resistance faltered, but the risk still loomed.Her hand clenched hard around the pen. "The risk is enormous.If this ever comes out, my career is over..." "It won't come out." Hannah's reply was unwavering, her gaze cutting."All I need is an ultrasound and an HCG blood analysis that shows I'm roughly two weeks pregnant. Issue them as you would any routine report. The scan can be blurred, the HCG slightly elevated-nothing suspicious."

Watching Darby hesitate, Hannah softened her pitch. "Please help me this once. Afterward, you'll no longer need your monthly salary to support your family--you'll finally get to live the life you've dreamed of."

Darby's expression faltered. "You... You guarantee this won't be tied to anything illegal? That no one will get hurt? And if it fails, it can't lead back to me!"

"I guarantee it," Hannah answered with conviction.

At last, Darby turned to the screen and began creating a false pregnancy report.

Moments later, Hannah held a fabricated report in her hand.She stepped out of the examination room. With two guards flanking her, she moved toward the lift.

Just then, a voice, oily and taunting, cut across the corridor."Well, if it isn't Silverwvood University's prom queen-Hannah."

Hannah froze mid-step, her eyes hardening into frost. That voice was unforgettable. Turning, she saw her college classmate, Gareth Barnes.

Gareth had been the classic playboy, flaunting family money and pursuing Hannah obsessively during college days. When she'd rejected him politely, he'd retaliated with spiteful rumors.

Later on, when Hannah had married Vincent, Gareth had sneered openly that she'd be discarded before long. Right now, as Gareth ambled toward her, Hannah only longed to sweep past without a glance. But he planted himself in front weep past without a glance. But he planted himself in front of her, barring the way. "Well, it's been a while." He clicked his tongue, his tone thick with scorn. "Heard things haven't been treating you kindly these days?"

His eyes darted toward the guards at her back. "What's this?Mr. Jones scared you'll bolt? Orworried someone else might snatch you away? Need assistance from me, your classmate?Maybe you don't dazzle like you once did, but hey, you were still the prom queen back then..."

He laughed, plucked a gold-edged card from his crocodile wallet, and dangled it between two fingers right before her face with insufferable arrogance. "Go on, take it. I'm thriving now. If you ever stumble, don't hesitate to lean on me. I've always been generous to old acquaintances-especially beautiful ones like you."